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NLIS 3
(Health and Community Services)
January 10, 2006
 

Changes to Medical Transportation Assistance Program

Health and Community Services Minister John Ottenheimer today announced changes to the Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) to take effect February 1, 2006. Changes to the program will make the program more equitable to those travelling outside their health region and/or province to receive treatment on an ongoing basis.

"Government is committed to ensuring access to medically-necessary treatment for all residents of our province and recognizing the financial burden that the cost of travel to receive medical treatment places on individuals and families," said Minister Ottenheimer. "Through these positive changes to the Medical Transportation Assistance Program we will be able to offer assistance to a greater number of patients who travel long distances for medical treatment."

The Medical Transportation Assistance Program provides financial assistance to residents requiring travel for medically-necessary treatment, who incur substantial costs including air fare, accommodations and meal costs. Effective February 1, 2006 changes to the program are as follows:

  1. No minimum stay required for eligibility, regardless of mode of travel. Previously there was a minimum 14 days stay required when travelling by private vehicle. Patients receiving cancer treatment often receive treatment in less than 14 days and could previously not avail of the program will benefit from this change.
     
  2. Residents travelling greater than 200 km one way via private vehicle will be eligible to claim expenses for meals and accommodations in excess of $500. Accommodations must be provided by a registered accommodations provider. This will enable residents who travel within the boundaries of a new health authority and who incur substantial costs to avail of MTAP benefits. There will be no compensation for mileage/kilometres for use of private vehicle or for private accommodations.

    Flexibility will be provided to those patients who travel less than 200 km one way but whose attending physician documents the patient�s inability to return home due to their health status and the patient consequently incurs hotel, hostel or other registered accommodation costs.
     
  3. Any eligible claims for accommodations and meals incurred, will be cost-shared based on claimable rates only if the accommodations are provided by a registered accommodations provider. A registered accommodations provider includes any hostel, hotel, motel or licensed apartment provider and an official receipt must be provided. There will be no reimbursement for accommodations or meals if the accommodations are provided by friends or family.

Minister Ottenheimer added, "In addition to enhancing financial support programs for patients requiring medical travel, government is improving health and community-based services through strategic investments in diagnostic and medical equipment and community supports to care for residents in their home communities."

The Medical Transportation Assistance Program was implemented in 1998 to assist residents who incur substantial costs when travelling via commercial air to access insured health services which are not available within their health region and/or within the province. The program applies an annual, one-time $500 deductible and then cost-shares the balance of eligible costs at 50 per cent, subject to program per diems and limits. Effective April 1, 2005, MTAP was modified for Labrador residents where government pays the first $500 of expenses (once in a 12 month period) and the remaining claimable expenses are cost-shared at 50 per cent.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741

2006 01 10                                  11:15 a.m.


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